I have listened to the enhanced tape. I've listened to it over and over trying to form an opinion. I have to say that I honestly couldn't say one way or the other if he is saying 'coon' or 'punk' or even another unknown word.

The claim that Zimmerman called Martin a "coon" is a big part of what made this appear to be a racist crime. I will acknowlege, as I have before, that the motive may not have been racism. Regardless, it doesn't make it any less of a crime. There are parts of this case that are certainly open to interpretation, but there are also facts that can't be ignored.

1 - Martin was not doing anything illegal

2 - Zimmerman followed Martin with a gun

3 - Zimmerman ended up shooting Martin after following him with a gun

IMO, all of the unknown or subjective details in the world won't change those facts or Zimmerman's guilt.

Our need to learn should always outweigh our need to be right

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren't so busy denying them.

I agree with your 3 points Cesmom. Too many people seem to be taking the perspective of the shooter, which is bizarre, are there that many stalkers out there?

I wish people would stop and think. Trayvon could have been any of us. Could have been any one of our children. Yes, I think him being black was a big factor. Probably the largest factor.

But in the dark and rain with a hoodie, we are all black. This really could have been any of us, that walk to a store, and shield ourselves from the rain.

Trayvon probably thought he was about to be robbed. He was not so lucky. And according to, too many in the public, he did not have a right to stand his ground, against a man with a gun.

A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side. AristotleNever discourage anyone...who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. Plato.."A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives" Jackie Robinson

Who all has listened to the enhanced tape? What is your personal view?

Doesn't sound like "punk" to me. Doesn't sound like "goon" either, to me. The first half sounds like "coo" the second half sounds like "unk" -- "coo-unk"

His trash-talking in a supposedly "professional" call doesn't speak well for his credibility, neither does his stereotyping of Martin, based on race, in his inaccurate accusations...."hands in his pants", etc.

Supposedly, the FBI is evaluating all his previous calls to 9-1-1 to see if there's a pattern that would indicate racial profiling.

Black Lives MatterMuslim Lives MatterThere is no such thing as "illegals"LGBT Lives Matter

"If we jump too quickly to the universal formulation, 'all lives matter,' then we miss the fact that black people have not yet been included in the idea of 'all lives.'"

What did "Zimmerman-ia" lead to ... ??? -- a Kid shot DEAD while "Walking Black," going Home from the Store with a Bag of "Skittles" ... (well, but ... he WAS "wearing a 'Hoodie,'" which FACT apparently classified him as a "Hood-lum") ....

EDITOR'S NOTE: In a follow-up story published April 7, police say the robbery and assault of a 78-year-old Toledo man by six juveniles were not racially motivated and his account of what happened might have been exaggerated.

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. ~ Proverbs 14:31

EDITOR'S NOTE: In a follow-up story published April 7, police say the robbery and assault of a 78-year-old Toledo man by six juveniles were not racially motivated and his account of what happened might have been exaggerated.

Meanwhile....a white guy is driving around shooting African Americans in Tulsa Oklahoma. So far three were killed within a span of just 7 hours. He stops them to ask for directions, then shoots them dead.

Wonder what rightwing media has to say about that? For that matter, what do they say about the fact the Emmett Till's murderers got off scott free after the terrible thing they did?

Black Lives MatterMuslim Lives MatterThere is no such thing as "illegals"LGBT Lives Matter

"If we jump too quickly to the universal formulation, 'all lives matter,' then we miss the fact that black people have not yet been included in the idea of 'all lives.'"